-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lawyers for New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez have until Friday to respond to a letter from the Major League Baseball Players Association seeking a dismissal of Rodriguez 's lawsuit claiming the union did not adequately represent him .

The lawsuit stems from Rodriguez 's recent 162-game steroid suspension and his efforts to get a Manhattan federal court to throw out the record-setting penalty .

The players union , which represented Rodriguez in his arbitration proceeding , claims in the letter that the `` union 's forceful advocacy '' was demonstrated by the reduction of his suspension from the 211 games sought by MLB , among other things .

In a four-page letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos , dated Thursday , the union asked the court to throw out the claim against the union because Rodriguez `` does not allege facts sufficient to overturn the -LSB- Arbitration -RSB- Award '' and failed to provide evidence of a breach of the union 's duties in representing him .

A spokesman for Rodriguez , Ron Berkowitz , declined to comment Tuesday .

In a federal lawsuit filed Jan. 13 , Rodriguez accused the players union of acting in `` bad faith '' in representing him during the arbitration process . Rodriguez filed the lawsuit in New York 's Southern District court against Major League Baseball and the union in an effort to get back on the field next season .

The players union has denied that allegation .

A pre-motion conference is set for February 14 , and Rodriguez 's lawyers were ordered to respond to the union 's letter one week before .

CNN sought comment from Rodriguez 's lawyers but has not received a response .

The suspension will not only cost Rodriguez $ 25 million in salary , but it also further clouds the groundbreaking career of a player who 'll turn 40 in the 2015 season .

Rodriguez , one of 14 players suspended in the Biogenesis scandal , was the only one who appealed his suspension . Though he was suspended in August , Rodriguez played out the 2013 season because of the appeal .

Rodriguez , 38 , is fifth on MLB 's list of all-time home run leaders , just six homers behind Willie Mays .

Rodriguez has claimed he was the target of a MLB `` witch hunt . ''

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MLB Players Association seeks dismissal of Alex Rodriguez lawsuit

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Lawsuit stems from Rodriguez 's 162-game doping suspension

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Union claims its `` forceful advocacy '' got suspension reduced from 211 games